In particular, 1) starting off by giving the reader a sense of what the post is about. I think that sort of context is useful before proceeding to the section on examples. I also like how this was accomplished so quickly.
And then 2) diving into various examples before proceeding to the larger idea. Eliezer wrote about this in SotW: Be Specific, and it’s always stuck with me.
(Also, note how this post starts off with a specific example—an instance of the concrete-abstract writing pattern in which you state the example first and the generalization afterward. This is one of the most common bits of nonfiction writing advice I dispense: “Open with the concrete example, not the abstract explanation!”)
I’m a big fan of it. And I predict that over the course of time, this pattern will become more and more popular on Less Wrong, and then in the blogosphere more broadly.
Pulling it off is one of those things that is weirdly difficult though, I think. Same with coming up with examples. So well done!
I really like the structure of this post.
In particular, 1) starting off by giving the reader a sense of what the post is about. I think that sort of context is useful before proceeding to the section on examples. I also like how this was accomplished so quickly.
And then 2) diving into various examples before proceeding to the larger idea. Eliezer wrote about this in SotW: Be Specific, and it’s always stuck with me.
I’m a big fan of it. And I predict that over the course of time, this pattern will become more and more popular on Less Wrong, and then in the blogosphere more broadly.
Pulling it off is one of those things that is weirdly difficult though, I think. Same with coming up with examples. So well done!